Summer Fun on a Shoestring Budget in KC
These are a few of our favorite frugal ideas in Kansas City. See KCParent.com for more, and read 50 ideas under $5 in KC.
Free Fun All Around Town
Check out these favorite ideas for free fun in the metro! Search “FREE Fun” on KCParent.com for more.
North: Take a tour of the 358,000-square-foot Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations. Learn about the process as the Sportster, Dyna, StreetTM and V-Rod families of motorcycles, along with select Softail models, are built from fabrication and finishing through final assembly. This tour is free to visitors ages 12 and up.
South: Visit the free Nerman Museum of Modern Art on the JCCC campus. Special family guides are offered so kids can learn more about the art.
East: Visit the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure, where you can see elk, deer and bison at the enclosure at Fleming Park. Then enjoy a hike around Lake Jacomo, visit Missouri Town 1855 (admission charged) or rent a boat at the marina.
West: Play at the Johnson County Museum, where the kid-sized KidScape Exhibit is a hands-on learning opportunity for little ones. They enjoy putting on plays at the theater, farming and riding the pretend tractor and playing like pioneers in a log cabin. MOVED 2017: 8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS
Downtown Kansas City: Kaleidoscope is the coolest hands-on creative art center for kids in the Midwest. Sponsored by Hallmark, this free attraction is a favorite kid pick, and summer is the perfect time to visit as a family. They offer free walk-in family sessions daily where kids create their own one-of-a-kind works of art.
For Grown-Ups: The Roasterie offers free tours of the factory where visitors learn all about cupping, roasting and blending in the coffee-making process.
All Across the Metro: Local libraries offer amazing summer reading programs. Sign up for free incentives to encourage your child to read all summer. Then check your library’s calendar of events for great free programs, including puppet shows, concerts, magicians and a variety of classes and workshops.
$5 or Less
Find more affordable ideas when you click “Going Places” on KCParent.com.
North: The Kansas City Northern Railroad is open Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day and offers rides at just $0.75/rider. Ride one of two G-16 trains that operate on a half-mile of track in Frank Vaydik/Line Creek Park, Kansas City, MO.
South: The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is just $2/a person. The attraction is home to nearly 200 animals and birds of prey, vegetable and flower gardens, a one-room country schoolhouse, an old-time fishing pond, pony rides and a wigwam.
East: Feed the fish at the Longview Lake Marina, where you can purchase small bags of fish feed at the dock. The carp put on a show for little ones who enjoy the feeding frenzy. You also can fish at the lake, bike the trails or swim at the beach.
West: Take in a T-Bones baseball game at Community America Ballpark, located in Kansas City, KS, near Legends Outlets. Ticket prices are reasonable and on Mondays, the first 1,000 kids eat for free. Plus, find great drink specials each night, along with skydivers on Fridays and fireworks on Saturdays. On Sundays, kids can run the bases after the game. Frugal family fun all summer long!
Downtown Kansas City: Catch a film at Union Station’s Extreme Screen, where films are just $5 each. Then explore the free model rail exhibit at the end of the Grand Hall. Or visit the free National Archives of Kansas City next door where you’ll see local history exhibits. Or visit the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Admission is only $5 and kids 4 and under are free. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, June 8-Aug.10, enjoy the Little Adventures program which includes gallery talks and a hands-on workshop. Satisfy your love for art with a visit to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is free, but parking is $8.
All Across the Metro: Sign up for free bowling with KidsBowlFree.com or free roller skating at KidsSkateFree.com, where local bowling alleys and skating rinks offer coupons for daily fun. They do charge for shoe or skate rental, so there is a nominal fee. Be sure to watch for discounted summer movies at local theaters: See AMCTheatres.com and Cinemark.com for information.
Frugal Fun Every Day
These are just a few of our favorite ideas for free fun in the metro!
Monday: Moms receive free admission to the Children’s EduTainment Center at Paradise Park on Mondays. With creative play areas for little ones and special programs daily, this is a fun and educational outing.
Tuesday: Visit the Overland Park Arboretum on Tuesdays when admission is free. The 300-acre botanical garden features a variety of areas to explore, with the Train Garden and Monet Garden as popular favorites.
Wednesday: The Downtown Olathe Farmers Market is open on Wednesday mornings. Sample new foods and buy local products. Live entertainment and demonstrations are offered as well.
Thursday: On Thursday evenings in June and July, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop in Olathe hosts free family nights. Each week they cover a new theme of living history activities. Admission is free. Stagecoach rides are $3/person ages 3 & up; some activities require an extra fee.
Friday: Downtown Lee’s Summit hosts Music in the Park every Friday night at Howard Station Park, Third & SE Main. Bring a lawn chair and picnic and enjoy music from every favorite genre. From country to reggae, Jamaican to jazz, there is something for everyone.
Weekends: Read our “KC Weekend Guide” where you’ll discover a complete guide to fun at KC’s coolest districts on the first, second, third, fourth and final weekends of each month.
Kristina Light enjoys lots of summer fun in Kansas City with her family!